Peter Whish-Wilson (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

On the one hand, we have a government selling a free trade agreement based on independent economic modelling outlining the benefits of that agreement; and, on the other hand, we have the car industry. This week Toyota, and over the last 12 months Ford and Mitsubishi, have been talking about the death of the car industry based on both current and future free trade deals. Presumably, the modelling that has been done by the government has factored in the serious risks that the car industry have had for a long time with trade deals. Given the importance of this matter and the importance of a bigger discussion and debate around free trade and fair trade in this country—that is, that trade has risks and costs, as well as benefits—the government should release the economic modelling for scrutiny.